Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament (3 vols.)

Overview

The English translation of the three-volume Exegetisches Wörterbuch zum Neuen Testament, this monumental work by an ecumenical group of scholars is first of all a complete English dictionary of New Testament Greek. Going beyond that, however EDNT also serves as a guide to the usage of every New Testament word in its various contexts, and it makes a significant contribution to New Testament exegesis and theology. EDNT's thorough, lengthy discussions of more significant words and its grouping of words related by root and meaning (with alphabetical cross-references) distinguish it from simpler Greek-English lexicons. Advancing the discussion of the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, EDNT summarizes more recent treatments of numerous questions in New Testament study and takes into consideration newer viewpoints of linguistics.

Praise for the Print Edition

A wealth of readable and reliable information. It will no doubt become an indispensible tool for the student of the New Testament as well as for the homiletician.

—Princeton Seminary Bulletin

A superb New Testament dictionary, translated and adapted from the famed German original. Both students and scholars will welcome this reference tool. It covers each Greek word in the New Testament, offering a translation plus succinct information on usage, background, and further bibliographical references.

—The Bible Today

This is a solid reference work, one that not only scholars but also pastors and students can use with benefit...One whose Greek has become rusty ought not to shy away from this dictionary. True, each word is first cited in its Greek form. Immediately thereafter, however, the Greek is transliterated and the word is defined.… The articles are interesting, substantive, and eminently readable.

—Interpretation

The three volumes have become one of the most important lexical tools in German scholarship, functioning much as Colin Brown’s New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology [NIDNT] has served the English market for the last decade...This is a work for expert exegetes to ponder and use as a valuable resource. It is loaded with information and nicely summarizes where many New Testament scholars stand in reference to the meaning of key terms. Used with reflection, it is a valuable tool for exegetical work.

—Darrel L. Bock, Bilbiotheca Sacra,July 1992

This work treats every word (though not all occurrences) in the Greek New Testament. All articles include standard lexical data, significant occurrences, and meaning—determined with emphasis on grammatical and theological context. Longer articles are accompanied by bibliographies and provide extensive discussion of the word (or word group) divided into sections emphasizing its importance to particular New Testament books or writers. Although there will be an English index in the third volume, thus making the dictionary accessible to those with little or no knowledge of Greek, many of the scholarly, complex articles will be difficult for nonspecialists. Specialists will find this dictionary thorough and up to date. Highly recommended for religious studies collections.

The editors titled this work as an exegetical, not a theological dictionary, hoping that this work would serve students, pastors, and scholars alike. The first volume fulfills their hope magnificently. The EDNT should be purchased, read, studied, preached, and taught. It will benefit preacher and hearer too.